FI115042B - Engine unit for ships - Google Patents

Abstract

Electric motor (2) has propeller (4) on shaft (3). The outer casing (5) for the motor is arranged so that the motor is cooled by the water directly through the casing. The shaft is supported by bearings (7) in gaskets to completely isolate the motor from the water and from the attachment assembly (9).

Description

115042

SHIP ENGINE UNIT MOTORENHET VID FARTYG

The present invention relates to a ship propulsion unit arrangement comprising a water motor housing with an engine and associated controls and a propeller arranged on the engine shaft.

The traditional ship engine arrangement comprises an engine arranged within the hull of the ship, the shaft of which is fitted with a propeller at its watertight end through the hull, which, when rotated, causes the water surrounding the vessel to move and thereby provide a thrust. The engine may be a direct-acting diesel or similar internal combustion engine, or preferably an electric motor, the electrical power of which is provided by a conventional internal combustion engine, a gas turbine, a nuclear power plant, or the like. The steering of such vessels is traditionally arranged such that a rotating rudder is arranged in the propeller stream, which deflects the current and thus produces a lateral force component relative to the vessel's longitudinal direction.

· Other types of propulsion units are also known where the propeller itself can be turned to steer the vessel. This: The turning movement can be performed by a rather complicated shaft arrangement or by the propeller being mounted on the shaft of an engine which itself is rotatable about the vertical axis. The latter arrangement is called an azimuth propulsion device and is illustrated, e.g. Applicant's Finnish Patent No. 76977, which is marketed by the Applicant under the trademark AZIPOD.

: Current azimuth propulsion equipment generally has an electric motor known per se, positioned in a vessel relative to the vessel | layup. However, the relatively high power electric motor • ** produces, in addition to the actual propeller power, a considerable amount of the 2 115042 heat that must be removed from the engine. Typically, the electric motor is adapted to be air-cooled, since air-cooling has been found to be expedient, particularly for operational reliability and maintenance. In this case, the cooling air ducts at the same time provide a service path in the vicinity of the engine. However, the drawback of air cooling is e.g. large space required by the arrangements. Attempts have also been made to implement, for example, a liquid cooling arrangement in which the actual cooling device is outside the propulsion unit, but such a solution has proved to be quite complicated in practice, considering that the azimuth unit as such is adapted to be pivotable. Attempts have also been made to engine engine cooling through the outer casing surrounding the engine, but these solutions have not worked satisfactorily and have always required the use of engine-only engines.

In parallel with this application, there is a pending patent application in which the motor itself is proposed to be constructed as a very tight modular unit, which at one end can be secured to a vessel and the other. . the head comprising propeller means. With such a modular system; ; Many important advantages are achieved by this process, especially with respect to the azimuth propulsion system mentioned above.

'' One such solution also provides a solution to the engine cooling problem.

The features of the solution according to the invention are set forth in the appended claims. Thus, the invention is characterized in that the motor unit comprises an electric motor which is cooled, over the entire circular section of the motor, directly to the material outside the unit through any motor shell structure. · In some embodiments, the clear shell structure is not definable; the shell, and such embodiments are within the scope of the present invention.

3, 115042

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of an engine arrangement according to the invention in relation to an azimuth propulsion system;

Figure 2 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an alternative mounting arrangement, and

Figure 3 shows a solution in which the engine unit according to the invention is arranged as a fixed propulsion device in the stern of the vessel in place of the traditional propeller arrangement.

According to Fig. 1, the modular motor unit 1 according to the invention generally comprises an electric motor 2 with a propeller 4 fitted to the shaft 3 of the motor unit according to the invention, such that the motor 2 itself receives its cooling directly through the enclosure 5, ·. of water 6. The shaft 3 of the motor 2 is, in a manner known per se, t mounted at each end of the motor by bearings 7 to which. in this connection, seals known per se are suitably arranged such that the interior 8 of the motor is preferably completely insulated from the surrounding water 6 and suitably also from the interior 10 of the mounting arrangement 9.

The motor unit suitably has fastening means in the form of a flange 11 for attaching the motor unit to the respective flange means 16, 16a, 16b or, in the case of Fig. 3, directly to the body 16 of the vessel 12. 1, it is further schematically illustrated by reference 13 in Figure 1 that the connections of the motor 2, such as power supply, control and monitoring means, lubricating means, etc., are preferably connected via a central connector to the mounting arrangement 9 or the hull 12, respectively. .

The general arrangement according to the invention provides many significant advantages. Because the motor unit can be configured to be very compact, efficient cooling can be achieved directly without the use of other cooling systems. The arrangement according to the invention thus enables considerably slimmer propulsion unit attachment systems, which have a smaller surface area and hence e.g. In practice, the abandonment of separate cooling arrangements passing through the azimuth assembly also means that the portion of the assembly that engages the vessel 12 may be substantially smaller than previous designs. The cooling arrangement according to the invention brings with it an even more compact structure, since most of the cooling and special arrangements commonly used in current similar devices are often completely omitted. This simplifies and speeds up the production of the engine unit, while keeping the weight of the unit low, which can also reduce the equipment needed to manufacture it.

Because it is largely a standard arrangement which is well suited to a variety of applications as such, the motor unit 2, which contains complex technology as such, can be manufactured in large sets without significant end use. This also guarantees that the engine unit's supply of spare parts can be very wide, starting with the fact that whole units are available as such in stock at major shipyards or even carried by the ship.

The arrangement according to the invention, thanks to its tight construction * *, *, provides a significantly smaller cross-section in the flow direction, which in turn provides a better propulsion-benefit ratio with a smaller propeller. Similarly, smaller bearings 7 can usually be dealt with.

5, 115042

From the point of view of equipment delivery and maintenance, the system of the invention enables rapid production and higher inventory rotation speeds. Due to the interchangeability and standard collection, maintenance is quick and simple, which is a major advantage given that the cost of stopping a ship for maintenance or repair can be very high.

Preferably, the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 is functionally similar to the azimuth propulsion system described above, i.e. the entire assembly 9 is pivotable about the vertical axis A-A. In this way, the arrangement with the engine replaces the propeller-rudder assembly of the prior art and provides, for example, significantly better efficiency and better turning properties. Preferably, the assembly 9 in the embodiment of Figure 1 comprises a substantially hollow suitably at least somewhat curved body member which engages through flanges the pivoting, power supply and control arrangements known per se in the art. , *. like azimuth propulsion devices.

. Furthermore, the modular construction implemented in accordance with this patent application ensures that the symmetry required for uniform cooling is particularly easy. Due to the advantageous modular construction, the unit does not have any external parts which would cause discontinuities in cooling, but the surrounding water 6 can reach everywhere as a refrigerant.

'. However, according to one embodiment, however, according to one embodiment, the motor 2 or its most sensitive '···' points are provided with a heat-conducting medium suitably: Y: with the aid of suitable pumping or similar means 17, if necessary, to improve.

Here, the structures and spaces 10 of the shaft assembly for holding the motor unit can be utilized, where additional coolant can also be recycled under particularly warm conditions. In some embodiments, both the motor unit 1 itself and possibly the arm assembly 9 holding it are provided with heat transfer cooling fins 18 or the like.

Fig. 2 shows an alternative mounting arrangement wherein the motor-holding mounting arrangement comprises a substantially vertical central body 9a having suitably circular portions 19, 20 holding the motor unit 1. Preferably, these portions 19, 20 surround a central portion of the motor unit 1 and there is a free opening 21 between the assembly 9. This opening allows the material 6, usually water, surrounding the engine 2 to contact at least the longitudinal central portion of the engine 2 with the heat-dissipating parts of the engine. The water is thus able to flow in the vicinity of the entire surface area of the motor unit which is directly bounded to the parts of the motor 2 where heat is actually generated. The structure shown in Fig. 2 comprises an arrangement in which the other end of the motor assembly 1 is surrounded by an annular portion 19, while the securing portion 20 at one end may alternatively be a mere mounting flange similar to Fig. 1 *. the annular portion 19 is replaced by individual holders (not illustrated), and in another embodiment, the second annular portion 19 is completely missing.

· **. In the above embodiments of Figures 1 and 2, the invention ···. The motor units 1, 1a according to the invention are fitted with pivoting arm assemblies 9 to provide an azimuth propulsion system.

Figure 3 again shows a solution in which the modular motor unit 1 according to the invention is attached directly to the hull 12 of the vessel 12 in place of the conventional propeller assembly. Here too, a considerable part of the advantages offered by the modular structure and the direct cooling arrangement according to the invention can be achieved.

7 115042

Some preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above by way of example, but it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the invention is not limited thereto but that it can be modified in many other ways within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (9)

1. A propulsion unit device for a vessel, comprising a motor housing unit present in the water (6) and a motor (2) and associated control devices and a propeller (4) arranged at a motor shaft (3), characterized in that the motor housing unit (1) ) comprises an electric motor (2) whose cooling is conducted over the entire circumferential surface of the motor (2) directly to the water (6) located outside the unit (1) through the motor casing structure (5). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that, in addition to the motor unit (1), additive means (17) are arranged to move a separate medium contained in the motor unit (1) to effect the transfer of the goods between the motor (2) and the substance present outside the unit (6). 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the actual motor unit (1) is arranged at an arrangement (9) which halves the same and whose outer surface advantageously forms part of the cooling system for the motor :: (2) and / or for some of it. • 1 Device according to claim 3, characterized in. thereof, that the auxiliary means (17) are arranged at the arrangement (1), mang (9) which halves the motor unit (1). • · Device according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized by; · T e c k n a d thereof, that at the outer surface of the motor unit (1) '.1 and / or the arrangement (9) which tails the same there are, · designs such as heat sinks (18) or the like which promote the heat transfer. Device according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in. characterized in that the arrangement which halves the motor unit (1) is arranged pivotally about a vertical axis (AA) 115042, such that it joins the ship (12) through a substantially horizontal floor, the rotatable arrangement (9) at its the upper end comprises a turning machine (14) for rotating the arrangement (9) especially in connection with the control of the vessel, and sliding or similar means for supplying one or more motor units (1) arranged at the arrangement (9) to supply the engine's energy supply and / or its control and / or similar functions. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the arrangement (9) comprises a supporting beam at the other end of which is provided flange means (16) for securing the motor unit (1) to the arrangement (9). 8. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the arrangement (9) comprises a substantially vertical central body (9a) having a suitable circular section (19, 20) which inclines the motor unit (1) and which advantageously encloses part of the motor unit (1). ) so that between the center portion of the motor unit (1) and the arrangement (9) a free opening (21) remains, so that the blank (6) which encloses the motor (2) and which is outside the unit at least at a central section of the motor (2) longitudinal direction is in contact with such parts (5, 7) of the motor (2) which give off heat. »» * · »·:: 9. Device according to any of claims 1 ... 8, characterized in that the motor unit (1) comprises a modular unit. * »» »* I * I * 1 · f 1» »·